Advanced Technologies for Fixed and Transportable Satellite Earth Terminals

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) / SOURCES SOUGHT (SS) NOTICE Development of a Digital Modem for SATCOM Topic Number: S0814 Advanced Technologies for Fixed and Transportable Satellite Earth Terminals THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) AND NOT A SOLICITATION. This request for information (RFI) may not be considered as an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or the Government use of such information. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI. A review of submitted white papers will be conducted in accordance with BAA W15P7T-08-R-P415 for sufficient scientific merit or relevance to the Directorate or CERDEC needs. Subject to available funds, offerors with approved white papers may then be requested to submit full proposals which will be subject to evaluation in accordance with the terms set forth in this BAA. INTRODUCTION Current SATCOM Earth Terminal (ET) communications are implemented using an analog architecture, with conversion from digital data to analog signal occurring in the modem. CERDEC STCD initiated a technology development program, Future Advanced SATCOM Technologies (FAST), in FY 12. The FAST architecture moves the analog portion of the ET architecture closer to the antenna, and implements a number of formerly analog functions using a digital architecture. The concept is to digitize the full receive spectrum at Intermediate Frequency (IF) and digitally process to provide separate digital interfaces to the modems. The full spectrum IF uplink will be converted to analog for input to the block up converter. SCOPE The US Army Communications Electronics Research & Development Engineering Center (CERDEC) Space & Terrestrial Communications Directorate (STCD) is interested in receiving information from companies that have experience in the design, development, and implementation of satellite communications systems, real time/embedded systems, modems, high speed digital interfaces, and open standards. CERDEC STCD wishes to identify potential sources for the implementation of a Digital Modem for use in an all-digital satellite communications terminal. A Digital Modem Interface Standard was developed under the FAST program. This standard will be used and verified under the Digital Modem for SATCOM development effort. DATA SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS CERDEC STCD request industry provides the following, but not limited to: General - Statement of interest. - Description of qualification: demonstrated products, projects, and applicable experience. State whether your current experience is in design, development or both. - Description of existing or planned work in this area. - Description of experience in developing digital Modems for SATCOM. For any clarifications or questions regarding reference documents or RFI, contact POC. The information received will not obligate the Government in any manner nor will the Government reimburse contractors for any costs associated with submittal of the requested information. This request does not constitute an Invitation For Bid or a Request For Proposal Responses to this RFI/SS. Responses are due to by COB January 09, 2013. Respondents should identify their company's name, address, telephone number, point of contact, and whether they are a large or small business. Proprietary information should be clearly marked. All submissions shall be sent via e-mail. The electronic format may be in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) or compatible with Microsoft Office suite of software. The white paper response shall not exceed 30 pages. Responses shall be delivered in electronic format to the following address: Steve Lescrinier (443) 395-9631 Stephen.p.lescrinier.civ@mail.mil